Side wall sample taker



Jun? 25, 1951 M. MENNECIER 2,558,452

SIDE WALL SAMPLE TAKER A T TORNEYS.

June 26, 1951 M- MENNECIER 2,558,452

SIDE WALL SAMPLE TAKER Filed May l5, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 F|G.6. FIG] MWAWAWMAWWAWMMWAWWW I y l I n I I IllI Ill

INVENTOR. MA UR/CE MENNEC/ER Quim,

ATTORNEYS.

Patented June 26, 1 951 sms WALL SAMPLE TAKER Maurice Mennecier, Houston, Tex., assignor to Schlumberger Well Surveying Corporation,` Houston, Tex., a corporation of Delaware Application May 15, 1946, Serial No. 669,923

l Claims. (Cl. Z55-1.4)

The present invention relates to side wall sample takers `for use in bore holes drilled into the earth. More specifically, it relates to a new and improved side wall sample taker which greatly facilitates the taking of cores from harder formations such as limestone, for example, although it is not limited to such use.

It has been proposed, heretofore, to employ isfactory for commercial operations, because the occurrence of a power or motor failure after the apparatus has been anchored jin drilling position makes it impossible to withdraw the apparatus from the Well. Also, the drill pressure in such apparatus varies with the drilling rate so that optimum drilling conditions for the various types of formations encountered cannot be maintained without modifying the apparatus. Moreover, such apparatus in which the motor is reversed to withdraw the sample from a formation is not always effective, but may leave all or part of the sample' in the formation, especially where the latter is quite hard.

The principal object of the present invention, accordingly, is to provide new and improved side wall sample taking apparatus 4'which is free from the above noted deficiencies of the prior art andwhich is simple and reliable in opera tion.

Another object of the invention is to provide new and improved side wall sample taking apparatus of the above character which can be readily withdrawn from a bore hole if the power or driving means fails after the apparatus is anchored in operating position in the bore hole.

A further object ofV the invention is to provide new and improved side wall sample taking apparatus of the abovecharacter in which the pressure on` the drill is maintained substantially constant, regardless of the cutting rate of the drill. f

Still another object of the invention is to provide new and improved side wall sampling apparatus of the above character which includes novel means for breaking the core substantially at the maximum depth of penetration of the drill. 1 T- y movable wall gripping means is normally re- A still further object of the invention is to provide new and improved side wall sampling apparatus of the above character which can be completely reset in the bore hole after a sample has been taken, so that the apparatus can be removed to another depth and an additional core or cores can be taken.

The objects of the invention are attained by providing guiding means in the body of a side wall sample taker, in which drilling and sample receiving means is slidably mounted for movement toward and away from the side wall of a bore hole. The drilling and sample receiving means is adapted to be operated by electical motive means which is slidably mounted in the body of the sample taken in such fashion that the Weight of the motive means is applied to the drilling and sample receiving means during the sample taking operation. AAlso, means are provided for automatically applying a force to the drilling and sample receiving means, after the latter has penetrated a predetermined distance into a formation, to break off the sample that has been cut so that it can be recovered.

The cable on which the sample taker is lowered into a bore hole is secured to the electrical motive means, so that, once the sample taker has been anchored at a given depth in a bore hole, lowering the cable permits the 'weight of the electrical motive means to be applied to the drilling and sample receiving means, f

while raising it withdraws the drilling and sample receiving lmeans from the side wall of the bore hole. i

The sample taker according to the present invention is adapted to be anchored in operatingA position by laterally movable wall gripping means, which preferably cooperates with wall gripping means on the body of the sample taker to effect this result. The cooperating-wall gripping means are rendered effective by the weight of the body of the sample taker so that the latter may be readily dislodged merely by pulling it upwardly in the bore hole. The laterally tained within the body of the sample taker but is adapted to be released by the operation of the electrical motive means which operates thedrilling and sample receiving means.

Means are also provided whereby the laterally movable wall gripping means may be moved into inoperative position within the body of the sample taker, and the `drilling and sample receiving means may be reset and restored to the initial,

over, since the weight of the motive means is applied to the drilling and sample receiving means, the latter operates under constant pressure, regardless of the rate at which it cuts into the formation, and this constant pressure can be adjusted for optimum drilling conditions by j controlling the weight of the motive means. This is an important factor, since operation of many hard formation drills such as diamond drills, for example, is much improved if an optimum value of drill pressure is maintained.

The invention may be better understood from theVV following detailed description of a representative embodiment, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a partial view in section taken along line I-I of Figure 4, looking in the direction of the arrows, and showing the upper portion ofl a side wall sample taker constructed according to the present invention;

AFigure 2 is a partial view .in section taken along line l-I ofrFigure 4, looking in the direction of the arrows, and showing the lower portion of the side wall sample taker illustrated in Fig-ure 1;

4vFigure 3 is a detailed View showing the retainer rod for the movable side wall gripping means in a position rotated substantially 90 counterclockwise from the position shown in Figure 1, and illustrating the opposite flats thereon;

Figure 4 is a view in transverse section taken along the liner 4-4 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows, and illustrating the manner in which the cam for releasing the movable wall gripping means is actuated;

Figure 5 is a partial detailed view taken along linek5`5 of Figure 2, and showing means for resetting the mechanism for breaking oif a sample toits initial position;

Figure 6 is a view in longitudinal section showing a side wall sample taker constructed according to the invention with the movable side wall gripping means in the operative position, but before the drilling and sample receiving means has penetrated a formation; and

Figure 7 is a view in longitudinal section illustrating the manner in which a sample cut from a formation is broken off.

Referring now to Figures 1 and 2, a side wall sample taker is shown comprising an elongated body I0 having an upper cylindrical portion II, and a lower support member I2 terminating in a'bullet shaped bottom member I3. The upper cylindrical portion II of the body III has formed therein a chamber I4 which is closed oil at its lwer end by a transverse 'partition- 1,5 and which communicates at its upper end with a bore I6 of lreduced diameter. Within the chamber I4 is disposed a cylindrical water-tight housing I'I containing a conventional type motor I8 which may be energized and controlled in any suitable manner as by amsource of electrical energyrB, switch yS and ammeter M, at the surface of the earth,^connected to the conductors C in the cable 30. Above" the housingII is disposed av head 29 which is adapted to be slidably received 4 within the bore I6, and to which a supporting cable 39 is secured in the usual manner.

The mechanical output of the motor I8 is transmitted from the shaft I9 and through the speed reduction gearing to a shaft 2I which extends through a transverse partition 22 forming a lower water-tight closure member for the housing I'I. Any suitable gear reduction ratio may be used, but a ratio of five to one has been found satisfactory where the motor I8 operates at y3600 R. P. M.

Leakage of bore hole fluid about the shaft 2| into the housing Il is prevented by a suitable packing gland 23. Inorder to permit the use of a packing gland 23 which will not impose an excessive load on the motor I8, and still prevent the entry of bore hole fluid into the housing I'I at theV extremely high fluid pressures ordinarily provide suitable means for equalizing the pressures inside and outside the housing II. Such pressure equalizing means may comprise, for example, conventional type Sylphon bellows 24, tightly secured above the housing I1 in a chamber 29' formed in the head 29. The interior of the bellows 24 communicates with the interior of the housing I'I through the passages 25 formed in the top wall of the housing I1. Communication is also provided between the motor I8 and the reduction gearing 20 through ythe passages 26 formed in a transverse partition 2l' disposed between the motor I8 and the gearing 29. The Sylphon bellows 24 and the space surrounding the motor I8, and the gearing 29, are filled with a suitable huid `such as oil, for example, and the bore hole fluid is permitted accessV to the outside of the Sylphon bellows 24 through a plurality of apertures 28 formed in the head 29, so that the pressures inside and outside the housing I'I are effectively equalized.

The housing I1 is slidably mounted within the chamber I4 and a plurality of longitudinally extending guide slots 30 are provided in the upper cylindrical portion l-I of the body I 9, within which va plurality of guide pins 3i mounted on the housing Il are adapted to be slidably reu ceived.

`The mechanical outputfrom the shaft 2! is transmitted through a conventional flexible cable 32,`which,passes through the transverse member I 5 and through a rigid supporting tube 39 shaped as shown in Figure 2, and which issecured to the rear wall of the drilling and sample receiving lmeans 34. The drilling and sample receiving -means 34 may comprise a conventional hollow diamond drill having a bit v35 at the forward end thereof of greater diameter than the drilling and sample receiving means 34. Suitable means are A provided for retaining the core within the drilling and sample receiving means 34, such as for eX- ample, a plurality of inwardly bent spring lingers 36 mounted in any suitable manner in the longitudinal slots 31.

The Adrilling and sample receiving means 34 is slidably mounted within a bore 38 formed in' s the lowermost portion ofthe slots 4I, by a1 stiff leaf spring 48, which is secured to the support member I2 at 49, and` which cooperates with latching means 42 engaging a cam surface 43 on the block 39. The latching means 42 is pivoted on the support member I2 and 44 and is normally urged into engagement with the cam 43 by means of a compression spring 45, which is interposed between an arm 46 on the latching means 42, and a recess 41 formed in the upper face of the bullet shaped, bottom member I3.

`The side wall sample taker of the present invention is adapted to be anchored at any desired level in a bore hole by means of side wall gripping means 59 which is movable laterally about a pivot 5I on the support member I2, and which is provided witn a plurality of teeth 52 which are adapted to engage the side wall of a bore hole. The wall gripping means 59 cooperates with a plurality of wall gripping teeth 59, formed on the side of the body I9 opposite the wall gripping means 59, thus forming a toggle mechanism on which the weight of the body I9 acts, when the supporting cable 30 is lowered, to anchor the body I9 at a desired depth in a bore hole.

On the wall gripping means 59 is an arm 53 secured at the point 54 to a bar, which is connected by a conventional universal coupling 56 (Figure 1) to a retainer rod 51, which extends through a hub 58 formed on the transverse partition I5. The retainer rod 51 terminates in a head portion 59 below which are formed opposite flats 69 (Figure 3), which, cooperate with a pair of downwardly extending spring detents 6I secured to the transverse partition 22 to Vretract the side wall gripping means 59 into the body I9 of the side wall sample taker in a manner to be described hereinafter. l

The retainer rod 51 is maintained in the position shown in Figures 1 and 2 by means of a laterally projecting key 62 which rests on the upper edge of the hub 58, as shown in Figure l, and which is maintained out of alignment with a longitudinally extending slot 63 in the hub 58 by means of a torsion spring 64, one end of which is secured to the retainer rod 51 and the other end of which is secured to the hub 58.

The side wall gripping means is adapted to causes the cam 66 thereon to engage the cam 65 i on the retainer rod 51 and move the latter through substantially 90 counterclockwise, thereby bringing the key 62 (Figure 1) on the retainer rod 51 into alignment with the slot 63 in the hub 59. When this position is reached, the retainer rod 51 is drawn downwardly by means of a tension spring 61 (Figure 2), one end of which is secured to the bar 55 and the other end of which is secured to an eyelet 68 mounted on the support member I2. Downward movement of the bar 55 causes the wall engaging means 59 to pivot about the point 5I and to move laterally into engagement with the side wall of a `bore hole.

Resetting of the drilling and sample receiving means 34, after the taking of a sample, may be accomplished by means of a rod 69, one end of and`13 (Figure 5) of a laterally extending lug 19,

which is secured to the block 39 and which is adapted to be lifted by the rod 69 when the cable 39 is raised. The lifting of the block 39 by the lug 19 in this manner permits the latch 42 to move into engagement with the cam 43 under the influence of the compression spring 45.

In operation, the side wall sample taker of the invention is inserted in a -bore hole with the side wall gripping means 59 in the normally inoperative position inside the body I9, and with the other parts in the relative positions shown in Figures 1 and 2. In this fashion, it is lowered into a bore hole 14 (Figure 6) until the lower end of the drilling and sample receiving means 34 is at the level of a formation 15 from which it is desired to obtain a sample. Arrival at this level may be determined in any suitable manner, as by the method disclosed in prior Reissue Patent No. 20,129 to Conrad Schlumberger, in which an electrical prospecting device is lowered into a bore hole with a sample taker, to enable the latter to be brought to the level of a formation of interest. With the apparatus at rest in this position, the switch S (Figure l) is closed and electrical energy is supplied to the motor I8 through conductors C in the supporting cable 39, causing the shaft 2I to rotate. As the shaft 2l turns, the

cam 66 thereon moves the cam 65 on the retainer rod 51 so that the key 52 thereon is brought into alignment with the slot 63 in the hub 58 (Figures 1 and 4). The spring 61 then pulls the retainer rod 51 downwardly, permitting the side wall gripping means 59 to pivot about the point 5I and movelaterally into engagement with the side wall of the bore hole 14, as shown in Figure 6.

`The cable 39 is then lowered, permitting the weight of the body I9 to force the teeth 52 on the side wall gripping means 59 and the cooperating teeth 59' on the body I9 into the side wall of the bore hole 14, thus anchoring the body I9 securely in the bore hole 14. Lowering of the cable 39 also permits the weight of the motor I8 and the housing I1 to be transmitted through the flexible cable 32 to the drilling and sample receiving means 34, which meanwhile is being rotated by the motor I8. During the drilling operation, the load on the motor I8 is increased so that a rise inthe reading of the ammeter M is noted, providing an indication of this operation at the surface of the earth. Rotation and advancernent of the drilling and sample receiving means 34 continues until the latter has penetrated to the desired Ydepth within the formation 15, as shown in Figure '1.

The depth of penetration of the drilling and sample receiving means 34 may be controlled by adjusting the length of a spacer 16 interposed between a flange 11 on the shaft 2| and a nut 18, -which is secured above the transverse partition I5. The length of the rod 69 may also be adjusted in any conventional manner, as by means of a turnbuckle 19, so that when the desired penetration has been reached, the head 1I at the bottom of the rod 69 will move the arm 46 downwardly against the spring 45, thereby disengaging the latch 42 from the cam 43 on the block 39.

slightly about the end thereof, thereby breaking the-,sample away from the formation 15. When this-occurs, the load on the motor I8 is suddenly Areduced, so that the'reading of the meter` M at When this occurs, the force exerted f against the block 39 by the stiff spring 48V will apply a couple to the block 39, causing the drill- 1 ing and sample receiving means 34 to rotate the surface '(Figu're 1) drops, providing an 'indication that the sample has been broken off. The motor |8 is then deenergized by opening the switch S.

At this point, the housing I1 has dropped far enough in the chamber I4 to permit the spring detents 6| to slip over the head 59 of the retainer rod 51 adjacent the flats 60 thereon, as shown in Figure 3. By raising the cable 36 the rod 69 is moved upwardly so that the head 'H thereon engages the ylug l and moves the block 39 to its initial position. This permits the spring 45 to move the latch 42 into engagement with the cam 43., thereby locking the block 39 in its initial position, as shown in Figures 2 and 6. Simultaneously, the shaft 2| pulls the flexible cable 32 upwardly., thus withdrawing the drilling and sample receiving means 34 from the formation T5 into the block 39. Also, the spring detents 6| lift the retainer rod 51 against the tension in the spring 61, causing the side wall gripping means 50 to pivot about the point so as to move away from the side wall ofthe bore hole 14 and into the body of the side wall sample taker lo. When the cam 62 in the retainer rod 57 reaches the upper edge oi the hub 58, the torsion spring 64 rotates the retainer rod 51 through approximately 90, thereby bringing the key 62 substantially to the position shown in Figures 1 and 4, at which time the sample taker is completely reset and is ready to be moved to another location to take another sample, or to be raised to the surface of the earth.

On occasion, the motor |8 may come to rest with the cam 66 on the shaft 2| in a position tending to 'prevent rotation of the cam 65 on the retainer rod 51 to its normal locking position as shown in Figure 4. In order to insure proper operation under such conditions, the torsion spring Y(i4 should be made strong enough 'to turn the shaft 2| against the load imposed by the reduction gearing 2|) and the motor I8. If desired. suiiicient angular lost motion may be provided between the cam 66 and the shaft 2| to rinsure return of the cam 65 to its locking position un der all conditions of operation that might be encountered.

Since the length of the rod 69 may be adjusted to break oil the sample after any predetermined depth of penetration of the drilling and sample receiving means 34 into a formation, the spacer 'I6 could be omitted.

-If it is desired to take a plurality of samples on one trip into Aa Vbore hole, the lengths of the spacer '|6 and the rod 69 should be adjusted so that the length of the sample cut during each sample taking operation is only a fraction of the total length of the drilling and sample receiving means 34. For example, if it is desired to take three cores, the lengths of the spacer 16 'and the rod 69 should be such as to restrict the length ofthe cores cut by the apparatus to approximately one third the total length of the drilling and sample receiving means 34. In practice, it has been found that good results can be obtained with a drilling and sample receiving means about eight inches long. Three cores can be obtained with this apparatus in a single trip into a bore hole, although obviously, a single core the full length of the drilling and sample receiving means 34 may be obtained, if desired.

As indicated above, it is advantageous to maintain the pressure on the drilling and sample 'receivling means 34 close to an optimum'value which may vary Vfor different formations and conditions of operation. A drilling and sample receiving means of linside diameter rotated at 706 R. P. M. under a pressure of 45 lbs. has been found entirely satisfactory, and requires about 1% .minutes to cut a core 2 inches long in hard limestone.

y Theipressure applied to the drilling and sample receiving means 34 may be controlled by adjusting 'the weight of the motor |8 and the components 'secured thereto. .If the weight of this equipment is not suiicient to produce the desired pressure, additional weight may be added to the motor I8 .inV any suitable manner. On the other hand if the weight of the equipment produces a higher `pressure than is desired, 'the tension in the-supporting cable can be controlled during the drilling operation to obtain the proper drilling pressure. Where this is done, a suitable cable tension indicator such as is described in prior Patent No. '2,353,249 to Maurice P. Lebourg should be employed.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that the invention provides `a new and improved side wall sample taker which is extremely simple and effective in operation. By mounting 'the electrical motive means slidably within the sample taker and Vapplying the Yweight thereof to the drilling and sample receiving means during the sample taking operation, the operating pressure of the drill may be maintained constant regardless of its rate of penetration into aformation. More over, it will be understood that Vthe novel side wall sample taker described herein can be readily dislodged and removed from the bore hole,V even though failure of the power supply or ofthe electrica-l :motive means occurs after the sample taking operation is under way.

' Although reference has been made in the foregoing description to a suitably supported flexible .shaft for Ytransmitting pressure and rotation to the coring tool, it will be apparent that other Y equivalent means may be employed for this purpose. For example, a series of short rigid shafts coupled by universal joints could be used.

While a specic embodiment has been described above, the invention is not intended to be limited ceiving means slidably mounted in said support and adapted for movement towards and away from the side wall of a bore hole, motive means mounted in said sample taker for causing said drilling and sample receiving means to advance from said support towards the side wall of a bore hole and to penetrate the same, means for holding said support and preventing movement thereof relative to the sample taker during a drilling operation, means for releasing said holding means to permit said support to be moved transversely of the direction of advancement of said drilling .and sample receiving means and means carried by the sample taker and reng dered effective upon the release of said holding means for imparting a sudden .transverse movement to said support, to break oi the sample from the formation.

2. In a side wall sample taker for use in a well, the combination of a support mounted for 'restricted movement in the sample taker and having a boretherein, drilling and sample receiving means slidably mounted `in said bore, motive means mounted in said sample taker for causing said drilling and sample receiving means to advance from said support and to penetrate the side Wall of a well, means carried by the sample taker for urging said support substantially transversely of said drilling and sample receiving means, means carried by said sample taker retaining said support against transverse movement thereof relative to the sample taker, and means carried by said sample taker responsive to the penetration of said drilling and sample receiving meansto a given depth in a formation for releasing said retaining means, whereby said urging means will cause a sudden transverse movement of said support, thereby breaking off from the formation a sample contained in the drilling and sample receiving means.

3. In a side Wall sample taker for use in a well, the combination of a support mounted in said 'sample taker for restricted movement in a direction at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the sample taker and having a bore therein, drilling and sample receiving means slidably mounted in said'bore for movement towards and away from the side wall of a Well, motive means mounted in said sample taker for causing said drilling and sample receiving means to advance from said support towards the side wall of the well, spring means mounted on the sample taker and urging said support in said direction at an angle to the longitudinal axis thereof, means for retaining said support against movement with respect to the sample taker in said direction, and means responsive to the depth of penetration of said drilling and sample receiving means into a formation for releasing said retaining means, thereby permitting said spring means to move said support to break off from the formation a core contained in said drilling and sample receiving means.

4. In a side wall sample taker for use in a well, the combination of a support mounted for limited movement within the sample taker, drilling and sample receiving means slidably mounted in said support, motive means slidably mounted in the sample taker for up and down movement therein, operative connections for transmitting the rotational output and applying at least a portion of the weight of said motive means to said drilling and sample receiving means, means carried by the sample taker for holding said support and preventing movement thereof during a drilling operation, means for releasing said holding means, and means carried by the sample taker for automatically imparting a movement to said support, upon release of said holding means, to break off from a formation a sample contained in said drilling and sample receiving means.

5. In a side wall sample taker for use in a well, the combination of a support mounted for restricted movement in a direction at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the sample taker and having a bore therein, drilling and sample receiving means slidably mounted in said bore, motive means slidably mounted in the sample taker for up and down movement therein, a ilexible driving connection between said motive means and said drilling and sample receiving means, guiding means carried by the sample taker for said flexible connection, said guiding means permitting transmission of the weight of said motive means to said drilling and sample 10 receiving means through said nexible connection, spring means carried by the sample taker urging said support in said direction at an angle to Vthe longitudinal axis of the sample taker, means carried by the sample taker for retaining said support against movement in said direction, and means responsive to the depth of penetration of said drilling and sample receiving means into a formation for releasing said retaining means, thereby permitting said spring means'to move said support to break off from the formation a core contained in said drilling and sample receiving means.

6. In apparatus for use in a bore hole, the combination of a body adapted to be lowered into a bore hole, a laterally movable side wall gripping member mounted in the body, means carried by the body for urging said wall gripping member into engagement with the side wall of a bore hole, means carried by the body for retaining said Wall gripping member in inoperative position within the body, a member slidably mounted in the body for limited up and down movement therein, a supporting cable extending from said slidable member to the surface ofthe earth, means for releasing said retainingl means to permit movement of said side Wall gripping member into engagement with the wall of a bore hole, retracting means mounted inthe body v:for restoring saidwall gripping member'toits inoperative position within the body, and means connected to said slidable member for linking said retracting means to said slidable member after a predetermined downward movement thereof, whereby said wall gripping member may be restored to the inoperative position by pulling on said cable to overcome the force exerted by said wall gripping member urging means.

7. In a side wall sample taker for use in a bore hole, the combination of a body adapted to be lowered into a bore hole, a laterally movable side Wall gripping member mounted in the body, means for urging said wall gripping member outwardly from the body into engagement Withthe side Wall of a bore hole, means for retaining said Wall gripping member in inoperative position within the body, motive means slidably mounted in the body for limited up and down movement therein, a supporting cable extending fromsaid motive means to the surface of the earth, drilling and sample receiving means slidably mounted in the body, operative connections for transmitting rotational movement and atleast a portion of the weight of said motive means to said drilling and sample receiving means, means responsive to operation of said motive means for releasing said retaining means to permit movement of said side wall gripping member into engagement with the side Wall of a bore hole, retracting means mounted in the body for restoring said wall gripping member to its inoperative position within the body, and means carried by said motive means and rendered effective after said drilling and sample receiving means has penetrated a predetermined distance into a formation for linking said retracting means to said motive means, to enable said side Wall gripping member to be restored to, and retained in the inoperative position by pulling on said cable to overcome the force exerted by said Wall gripping member urging means.

8. In a side wall sample taker for use in a bore hole, the combination of'a support mounted for limited movement within the sample taker, drilling and sample receiving means slidably ll mounted iin-said support, motive means slidably mounted Vin the sample taker vfor restricted up and'downmovement" therein, a cable extending from said-motive means -to the surface-of the earth, operative connections for transmittingthe rotational ou-tputI and applying' at least a portion Vof the weigh-t of said motive means toA said drilling and sample receiving means; releasable means carried bythe sample taker for holding said support and preventing movement thereof during a drilling operation. means movable with said motive means `and responsive to the depth of penetration of said drilling and sample tak- Ying means into the side wall of a well for releasing saidfholding means', means for automatically applying a force to said support', upon release of said holding means, to cause said support to move; so as. to break off from a formationa sam- -ple contained in said drilling and sample receiving means, and actuator means carriedl by said releasing means for restoring said support to the position Vit occupied prior to the release of said holding means, said last named means being adapted to be actuated by `raising said supporting cable.

9. AV side' Wall Asample taker for use in a bore hole, comprising a: body adapted to bey lowered into a bore hole and. having side wall gripping means thereon, a laterallymovable side wall gripping member mounted in the body, means for moving said Wall gripping' member outwardly from the body into; engagement with the side wal-1 of a bore hole,A means for retaining said wall gripping member in inoperative position within the body, motive means.y slidably mountedk in the body for limited longitudinal movement therein, a supporting cable `extending fromV said motive means to the surface of.V the earth, drilling and sample receiving means slidably mounted in the bod-y for movement towards and away from Vthe side wall of a bore hole and mounted for limited lateral movement,` `operative connections for transmitting .the rotational output and applying the weight of said motive means to said drilling Vand sample receiving means to. causev the latter toy penetrate the sidef wall. of a well, means responsive to operation of saidmotive means for releasing said retaining means to permit move'- ment-of said sidewall gripping member into engagement with the. side wall of aY bore hole, 5

by said motive means and responsive to a given penetration of said drilling and samplereceiving means into a formation for releasing said movement restricting means, means carried by'said sample taker for automatically applying a force to said drilling and sample taking means toV cause lateral movement of said drilling and sample receiving means, upon release of said movement restricting means, to break ol a sample contained therein from a formation, actuator means carried by said releasing means, and adapted to be actuated by raising said'supporting cable for restoring said support to the position itv occupied prior tothe release of said movement restricting means, retracting means mounted in the bodyior restoring said wall gripping member to its inoperative position within the body, and means carried by said motive means for linking the latter to said retracting means when said motive means reaches a predetermined position, to enable said side wall gripping member to be restored to and retained in the inoperative position by pulling on said cable. r

10. In a side wall sample taker for use in a bore hole, the combination of drilling and sample receiving means slidably mountedA in the sample taker and adapted for movement towards and away from thel sideV wall of a bore hole, means mounted in said sample taker for causing said drilling and sample receiving means to advance. from'the sample taker towards the side wall of a bore hole and to penetrate the same, means carried by said sample taker for appl-ying a torque to said drilling and sample receiving means to break off a sample from a formation, means on saidsample taker for restricting movement of said drilling and sample receiving means relative to said sample taker due to said torque applying means, and means for rendering said movement restricting meansinefective.

MAURICE MENNECIER.

A REFERENCES CITED The. following references are of record. in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PTEN TS 

